The reconciliation efforts in the Peoples Democratic Party may suffer a delay as the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, whose emergence and choice of running mate has caused disagreements among some party chieftains, has travelled to the United States.
Some party chieftains, including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, have in the last few days expressed displeasure over the state of affairs in the party.
A former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, had also expressed reservations over the way Atiku disregarded the recommendations of the committee set up to choose a running mate for him and went ahead to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
Multiple sources said the former vice-president was advised to take out time to relax, having been consulting since he emerged as the party’s candidate in the February 25, 2023 election.
One of the aides of the former vice-president, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, noted that Atiku would meet Wike once he returned to the country.
Wike on Saturday arrived in the country from Turkey, where he went for vacation.
The source said, “Many people are aware that the Rivers State governor is unhappy that he lost the primary and was not chosen as the running mate, despite the fact that he was recommended by the committee set up for that, but no issue is beyond reconciliation.
“Atiku will meet with Wike when he returns. Governor Wike is a key member of our party and we need him to be on our side, not just for the election but also because that is the right thing to do. The governor is a good party man and is not the type to jump around and once Atiku meets him, we are confident the issues would be resolved and they would be able to work together for the overall interest of the party.
A BoT member who is also a former National Secretary of the party, Prof Wale Oladipo, told Sunday PUNCH that though the interventions were not official, the crisis would not affect the party’s chances in the 2023 general elections.
He said, “Though there is no official meeting on the issue, I can attest to the fact that there are interventions here and there on it. Members of the board are intervening, other caucuses are also intervening. We will resolve it.
“The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is a valuable member of our party and our presidential candidate is also our valuable member. We will resolve it. There is nothing to worry about. It is politics.”
